Correct Option (B)
The given sequence is 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3, 2, ...
This sequence can be segmented into successive blocks of numbers, where each block's length increases by one, and the sum of its elements corresponds to the sum of the first 'k' natural numbers:
- Block 1: (1) - Contains 1 term. Sum = 1.
- Block 2: (1, 2) - Contains 2 terms. Sum = 1 + 2 = 3.
- Block 3: (1, 3, 2) - Contains 3 terms. Sum = 1 + 3 + 2 = 6.
- Block 4: (1, 4, 3, 2) - Contains 4 terms. Sum = 1 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 10.
- Block 5: (1, 5, 4, 3, 2) - Contains 5 terms. Sum = 1 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 15.
In general, the k-th block contains k terms, and the sum of the terms within the k-th block is equal to the sum of the first k natural numbers, given by the formula k(k+1)/2.
To find the sum of the first 28 terms, we first determine how many such blocks are required to accumulate 28 terms:
- Total terms after Block 1 = 1
- Total terms after Block 2 = 1 + 2 = 3
- Total terms after Block 3 = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6
- Total terms after Block 4 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10
- Total terms after Block 5 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15
- Total terms after Block 6 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 21
- Total terms after Block 7 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 28
Thus, the first 28 terms of the sequence comprise all terms from Block 1 through Block 7.
The sum of the first 28 terms is the sum of the sums of these individual blocks:
- Sum of Block 1 = 1
- Sum of Block 2 = 3
- Sum of Block 3 = 6
- Sum of Block 4 = 10
- Sum of Block 5 = 15
- Sum of Block 6 = 21
- Sum of Block 7 = 28
Total Sum = 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 + 28 = 84.
Incorrect Options:
Options A (83), C (85), and D (86) are incorrect. These values do not correspond to the accurate sum of the first 28 terms of the given sequence, likely resulting from arithmetic errors during the summation process or a misinterpretation of the sequence's pattern and term count.